November 8, 2007

Pyle focuses on economic development at AVCA meeting

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

From the city’s General Plan and Green Vision, to attracting new businesses to San Jose, Councilmember Nancy Pyle focused on economic development at the Nov. 5 Almaden Valley Community Association meeting.

At a recent AVCA meeting, Councilmember Nancy Pyle shares the city’s vision for economic development.

General Plan Update: Envision San Jose 2040
By the year 2035, San Jose is expected to grow an additional 413,000 people. To create a guideline for the city’s future growth, the city has assembled a 37-member task force co-chaired by Councilmember Sam Liccardo and former Councilmember Shirley Lewis.

“The General Plan update will allow us to think strategically about where people will live and work,” said Pyle. “Project goals are to create a diverse and world class city to accommodate growth projections, while being innovative and accountable.”

She noted that unlike some other Bay Area cities, San Jose has chosen to continue growing. “Why don’t we put up a sign saying, ‘San Jose closed?’” she queried. “If we stop growth, we forfeit millions in state funding and the attraction of San Jose to corporations. We do want the jobs here.”

BusinessOwnerSpace.com
A new Web site has been created by the city to benefit small businesses, which generate 85 percent of local business income. The Web site, which connects local business owners with related resources, received 5,500 hits in its first three days.

New Retail
According to Pyle, San Jose suffers from the worst sales tax leakage in the county. “People go elsewhere to spend their money,” said Pyle. “We don’t have a lot of the retail we need to keep them here. I’ve been working on trying to bring in the businesses that will help us to get that sales tax.” In addition to Whole Foods, Pyle said that Nordstrom has expressed interest in opening a local store. According to one resident, LucasFilms, Ltd. is also interested in developing a center in Almaden Valley.

In additional to national businesses, Pyle has been pursuing international clients, meeting with companies from Tallinn, Estonia and Oulu, Finland interested in expanding their world market. “Companies are attracted by our bio center, which provides expensive equipment, special refrigerators, storage and heat receptacles,” said Pyle. “Some of these products will have a dramatic effect on the future health of the world, such as Africa.”

Green Vision
The City Council recently adopted Mayor Reed’s Green Vision, which outlines 10 goals the city hopes to achieve within 15 years (see last week’s Almaden Times, page 1):

However, some residents are less than convinced that these goals are feasible or realistic, and asked whether the city’s staff had completed a cost benefit analysis. “How are you going to provide all the city’s needs with renewable power?” asked one resident. “It can’t be done.”

Chuckles and similar queries led Pyle to reply, “We don’t embarrass the mayor publicly. We don’t embarrass him privately, but we ask questions. Some questions are definitely being asked.”

Parks
The use of T.J. Martin Park by the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League (AVYSL) continues to be a point of contention for local residents. On Dec. 5, a meeting with stakeholders will convene regarding this issue.
“This problem has gone on for about 30 years,” said Pyle, “and it’s time for peace.”

With funding raised from previous bond measures, several neighborhood parks will enjoy renovation in the near future. The Dog Park will be resurfaced with decomposed granite and tan bark. Almaden Lake Park Phase II upgrades will include a connection with the Eastside walking trail, renovation of the Westside children’s playground and the addition of shade trees, benches and landscaping.

There is also a plan for connecting Almaden Lake Park with Quicksilver Park. The development of the Lester property, located by Snell and Branham, which was donated for use as an agricultural park, will be discussed at a Nov. 15 community meeting at the Almaden Winery.

Almaden Urban Reserve
Pyle spoke passionately about protecting Almaden Valley by limiting growth in the Urban Reserve. “I’m against building anything in the Urban Reserve before the General Plan Update is complete,” she said.

Pyle noted that although 2,000 housing units are planned for future growth in the Urban Reserve, she is concerned that 490 units are already built there. “Those 490 units tell me we need to get a moratorium on building until we have a plan in place,” she said. “We need to protect Almaden’s beauty, quality of life and open space. High-density corridors should be downtown. Please don’t think for a second we’re going to get light rail here. The chances of anything coming up here are slim to none and would be pretty vigorously opposed.”

Coyote Valley Specific Plan Draft EIR
“The EIR didn’t go over very well,” said Pyle. “It came back with many more problems than anticipated. One of the main reasons I’m on that task force is to be a watchdog for this area. Let there be no ifs, ands or buts about it, this will dramatically impact the Almaden area.”

Pyle believes that continually revising the EIR may become cost prohibitive. “It will become so costly to keep revisiting the EIR that after awhile I’d imagine it would put a huge damper on those footing the bill: the developers,” she said. “Especially when we can’t foresee a specific time we would need Coyote Valley. The whole idea was to provide another park-like campus for businesses integrated into the environment and ideally planned. The trouble with idealism is that it interferes with practicality. It is an on-going battle and there is a fatigue factor.”